MLB Player News

No reason given for the scratch, but these things tend to happen during the exhibition season. Joey Wiemer will instead get the start in center field.

The 21-year-old has started the year going 11-for-30 with one home run, seven strikeouts, three walks, six runs scored, and six RBI. There’s a lot of season left to play, but he’s putting himself in a great place to get called up once Washington falls out of the playoff race and decides to move on from veteran Paul DeJong at third base.

Yes, that Franchy Cordero. After hitting .247/.322/.392 with nine homers, 53 RBI, and a 105/43 K/BB ratio over 447 plate appearances in Japan last year, Cordero is back stateside. He’s hitting .364 with a .985 OPS, one home run, and six RBI so far in the Triple-A season.

The Yankees are throwing left-hander Carlos Rodon, so Carpenter will head to the bench with Manuel Margot starting in right field and Ryan Kreidler getting his third straight start in center field. Kreidler has started five of the last six games in center for the Tigers despite going 3-for-21 in those games. We’re not sure he’s a better option out there than playing Margot regularly.

The Twins needed a fresh arm in the bullpen and decided to move on from McCaughan, who allowed one run on two hits in 2/3 innings against the Astros yesterday. However, that was the only run he has allowed in 5 1/3 innings this season while striking out six and walking one, so the Twins are gambling that nobody else will take a chance on the 29-year-old. Scott Blewett was called up to take his spot on the active roster.

Blewett was removed from the 40-man roster in November but re-signed to a minor league contract later that month and will now be back on the 40-man roster. The 28-year-old had a 1.77 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 18/8 K/BB ratio across 20 1/3 innings (12 appearances) last year for Minnesota. He had allowed three runs on three hits in 2 1/3 innings in Triple-A this season while striking out three and walking two. RHP Darren McCaughan was designated for assignment to make room on the active roster.

This is quite a swing for the Red Sox who are also getting a Competitive Balance Round A draft pick and a player to be named later or cash considerations. Rodriguez was the seventh-ranked prospect in the Brewers’ organization and hit .250/.343/.383 with seven home runs and seven steals in 484 plate appearances as one of the youngest players in A-ball last year. He was the highest-paid player in Milwaukee’s international signing class in 2023 and possesses elite athleticism. He remains incredibly young and far from the big leagues, so there is a lot of growth that needs to happen here, but this upside is sky high.

The Brewers’ rotation has been crushed by injuries with all of Brandon Woodruff, Tobias Myers, Nestor Cortes, Aaron Civale, DL Hall, and Aaron Ashby on the IL, so they needed to make a move for a starter. This one did cost them their seventh-ranked prospect in Rodriguez and a competitive Balance pick which is a pick between the first and second round in the 2025 MLB Draft. Priester, whom the Red Sox acquired from the Pirates last year, almost won a rotation spot in Boston in spring training. Since coming to Boston, Priester has added a cutter, revamped his slider, and now features a six-pitch mix. These are the type of pitchers, like Myers, that the Brewers tend to get strong results from, so it wouldn’t be a shock for Priester to become deep league relevant this year. The Brewers designated RHP Grant Wolfram for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.

The Yankees had signed Ottavino last week when Devin Williams went on the Paternity List, and then released Ottavino when Williams returned. Now Ottavino is back and will fill a spot in the Yankees bullpen with LHP Brent Headrick optioned to Triple-A.

The 21-year-old is 10-for-35 in eight Triple-A games this season with two walks, three strikeouts, and four steals. There is no room at the inn in the Phillies’ outfield, but Crawford could get a chance sometime this summer if he continues to hit like this.

Quero is now hitting .379 in the early going with a 1.017 OPS while fellow catcher Kyle Teel has cooled off and is batting just .235 with an .831 OPS. Obviously, it’s only been seven games, so we don’t want to read into anything too much, but if the White Sox were inclined to give one of their catching prospects a look in the big leagues, Quero seems to have the upper hand right now.